The Air Force said on Saturday that Ukrainian air defenses shot down a Russian hypersonic missile for the first time this week during an attack on Kyiv, possibly causing a major setback for the Kremlin’s long-range air operations.
President Vladimir Putin unveiled six “next generation” weapons in 2018, including the Kinzhal, which translates to “dagger” in Russian. Putin said that no air defense system would be able to intercept it.
According to Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk, the Kh-47 Kinzhal was shot down near Kyiv on Thursday night. According to the Air Force, it was brought down by a Patriot air defense system.
“I congratulate Ukrainians on the historic event. “We shot down the ‘unparalleled’ Kinzhal,” he said on Telegram.
The Patriot system from the United States is one of many strong air defense systems given by the West to help Ukraine resist a months-long Russian bombing campaign that has targeted critical infrastructure, power plants, and other areas.
Hundreds of people were murdered in Russia’s October strikes ahead of winter. The strikes caused significant power outages without causing the system to fail. Russia denies striking civilians.
Russia has maintained that the missile has no Western analog, despite the fact that it has not responded to Ukraine’s Kinzhal disclosure.
Ballistic missiles fired from the air may carry nuclear or conventional warheads and reach speeds of up to Mach 10 (12,350 km/h). The range is 1,500-2,000 kilometers. Ukraine claims the missile was fired during an early Thursday drone attack on Kyiv and other cities.
Authorities in Kyiv first reported a ballistic missile attack, but the Air Force did not announce that a Kinzhal was launched.
Russia has accused Ukraine of a failed drone attack on the Kremlin fortification in Moscow and has promised retaliation. Moscow has accused Washington of participation in claims that Ukraine and the US dispute.
Over the past week, Russia has increased drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian territory as Kyiv prepares to launch a counter-offensive against Russian forces who have dug in over areas of captured territory in the south and east.
According to officials, Ukraine just got Patriot missiles last month.
Ukraine has launched a number of Kinzhal missiles. On March 19, 2022, Russia fired the missile on a weapons cache in southern Ukraine.
Previously, Ukraine’s Air Force was unable to intercept Russian ballistic missiles aimed at population areas and power plants.
The Air Force reported shooting down eight Russian Shahed drones that assaulted eastern and south-eastern Ukraine overnight on Saturday.
